Rules Question

[Bebop3]

I know that there is a prohibition against having characters under 18 engage in sex.

I'm fine with that (not that it matters what I'm fine with). I wouldn't want to include that in a story anyway.

My question is, can an author include a reference to sex for a character under 18? For example, can a character say "...well, I lost my virginity at sixteen" or "... sadly, Joe was molested as a child"?

Thanks for the help.

 

[oggbashan]

As I understand it - yes.

But it must be just a bare statement without any details at all. Any description of what happened would be likely to cause a rejection.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

I know that there is a prohibition against having characters under 18 engage in sex.

I'm fine with that (not that it matters what I'm fine with). I wouldn't want to include that in a story anyway.

My question is, can an author include a reference to sex for a character under 18? For example, can a character say "...well, I lost my virginity at sixteen" or "... sadly, Joe was molested as a child"?

Thanks for the help.

no. both are against the guidelines of Lit.

 

[oggbashan]

The acid test might be whether what you write would seem arousing to someone who has an interest in sex before age 18.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Yes, you can mention it, as long as you don't describe it. It has been done before. Just no details.

no, you can't.

 

[oggbashan]

This set of statements made in the Everything FAQ sticky, seems acceptable to Laurel:

http://forum.literotica.com/showpost.php?p=86222902&postcount=27

Past sex - if the character had sex before 18 it can be referred to but must NOT be described e.g. "Chloe lost her virginity at 16" could be acceptable as a bare statement. If you want something like that it would be advisable to mention it in the Notes Box when submitting.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

This set of statements made in the Everything FAQ sticky, seems acceptable to Laurel:

http://forum.literotica.com/showpost.php?p=86222902&postcount=27

Past sex - if the character had sex before 18 it can be referred to but must NOT be described e.g. "Chloe lost her virginity at 16" could be acceptable as a bare statement. If you want something like that it would be advisable to mention it in the Notes Box when submitting.

okay, try it and see the result.

 

[oggbashan]

okay, try it and see the result.

I have. It has been accepted in the past. BUT I always mention it in the Notes.

It has to be very bland, factual and devoid of any titillation.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

I have. It has been accepted in the past. BUT I always mention it in the Notes.

It has to be very bland, factual and devoid of any titillation.

i've tried it, and been rejected.

 

[oggbashan]

i've tried it, and been rejected.

It's Laurel's decision on each story. Your experience and mine suggest that it is always problematic. If you can avoid any mention without wrecking the story it is best to avoid it.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

It's Laurel's decision on each story. Your experience and mine suggest that it is always problematic. If you can avoid any mention without wrecking the story it is best to avoid it.

worked for me since.

 

[oggbashan]

worked for me since.

Sometimes I think I write to a rule of 'no sex before age 40'.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sometimes I think I write to a rule of 'no sex before age 40'.

If they're old enough that they don't have to show ID when buying liquor, then your story is good to go.

 

[Bramblethorn]

no, you can't.

Yes, you can. I did it in my first story here: one character mentions that her grandma gave her The Talk about contraception when she was fourteen, because Grandma had had a shotgun wedding at age sixteen.

 

[RejectReality]

The key is in what Ogg said. Any time you're near the line, even if you don't cross it, you need to point it out in the moderator notes section. That keeps Laurel from knee-jerk rejecting it as she speed reads.

 

[ElectricBlue]

My question is, can an author include a reference to sex for a character under 18? For example, can a character say "...well, I lost my virginity at sixteen" or "... sadly, Joe was molested as a child"?

Thanks for the help.

Yes, you can. A bland sentence, a statement only, but absolutely no sexual, titillating nor erotic connection whatsoever. It's wise to put a Note to the Editor, so Laurel knows it's there for the plot (make sure it is vital to the plot, obviously, not gratuitous).

If you try to bend the rules, it's likely to be spotted and bounced (either by Laurel or the story subsequently being reported)..

I have several new born babies scattered through my stories - provided they are 500 or so words away from any sexual reference, you'd be OK.

 

[NotWise]

It might also help if you don't put the reference at the beginning of the story.

 

[Bramblethorn]

The key is in what Ogg said. Any time you're near the line, even if you don't cross it, you need to point it out in the moderator notes section. That keeps Laurel from knee-jerk rejecting it as she speed reads.

Yep. Pretty much any time I mention an age under 18, I include a moderator note to clarify what I'm doing with that, even if it's just "this character isn't anywhere near the sex". From other people's rejection posts I get the impression that a new author mentioning 16-17-year-olds is at risk of getting a rejection based on keywords otherwise.

 

[oggbashan]

Oops! My pending submission has a three-year-old in it.

 

[MelissaBaby]

This was acceptable:

In a small town fifteen miles from the nearest movie theater, thirty miles from the nearest shopping mall, there were only a few means by which I could appease my restlessness. By the time I graduated from high school, I was well acquainted with liquor, with marijuana and with men.

But even so, lots of girls experiment with getting drunk, with smoking pot and with enjoying the attention of older men, and they don't end up locked away.

My Fall and Rise Chapter 2: Nobody Rides For Free

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Yes, you can. I did it in my first story here: one character mentions that her grandma gave her The Talk about contraception when she was fourteen, because Grandma had had a shotgun wedding at age sixteen.

i did it way back. it was only an allusion to my character - 18 by then - having prior sexual experience. that's all it was, an allusion, nothing direct or graphic. but the piece got rejected.

the 'rules' may have softened a little since then.

 

[PuckIt]

When in doubt, leave it out.

It is just my opinion, but I think the problem is, has been, and forever shall be two-fold whenever this topic comes up.

1) Ultimately Laurel is the only one who will determine what is acceptable or not on the walls of her art house. And, it is going to be impossible to determine (even for her) what is going to be acceptable or unacceptable as she speed reads her way through the daily slush pile every day. And I think even she, were she to grace us with her presence, would admit that this grey area might hit her differently on different days months or even years apart.

2) Writers (and readers) have their own idea what they think of as titillation, or what they want to see and do. (That, or they just want to push the boundary and get stank-eyed when caught and bounced.)

For my own dubious efforts, I tend to look long and hard when I think I may want to incorporate anything from before the birthday fairy (or the government) goes "Prang! You are now legal to go fuck up you life any way you choose!"

And, arguably, I may have incorporated something a few times that it wasn't strictly speaking necessary. (And no, I'm not going to say what or when.)

But, I tend to follow the rule; "When in doubt, leave it out."

If it isn't completely necessary to advance characterization or plot, that is the reader could "get it" without it, know it for yourself, but don't write it in.

 

[Voboy]

I’ve done it and it’s gotten through. Several times. Until someone’s delicate sensibilities got ruffled and Laurel kicked them back many months later for revision.

So the answer is yes. Then no. Then, sometimes, yes again.

Perhaps it’s best to err on the side of caution, as silly as it seems.

 

[Radiohead]

Its simple, any sex is over 18, if you dont want it that way, post anywhere else.

They have/had a legal US requirement. So if it matters, put it elsewhere, if not, change specific sexual activity to 18 if you want it here.

 

[bone251]

Maybe say " I was abused too young to mention"